PG situation

[damuts222]

 Our PG's defense collectively have been bad thus far this season. I know Cadougan lost weight
and was supposed to be vertically quicker, but I have yet to see that. Buycks is not a point and to
me doesn't have a position because he doesn't do anything particulary well.

 Between the turnovers, lack of defense, jumping with no where in particular to go with the ball, and the bad game management thus far shown by our point guards I would not mind to see Blue start at point guard at this point just to see a good on the ball defender on the opposing teams point guard.

[NersEllenson]

Reggie Smith seems to have gotten in the doghouse - though his handle did look a little suspect in the few games he played.  Junior has showed some flashes of being okay - played well against Duke.  I do agree that PG is definitely our team's weakness at this point - though not sure Vander can really run point.  I do see why we recruited Derrick Wilson, however.

[GGGG]

Well, Reggie was put in for one minute against Gonzaga, and had an awful turnover.  He was yanked soon afterwards and I doubt he'll see the floor for awhile.  Seriously for a guy who started the first game of the season, he most certainly must be in the dog house.

[RubyWiscy]

Looks like the Point Guard situation is resolved for the time being. Junior will be the best option in the long run and I think Buzz has finally realized it. Time to stop messing around and let the kid develop some confidence by staying on the court for most of the game.

[Boone]

Junior's the best point guard option we have, but that's not saying much. His ceiling seems low and at best he can aspire to be a middle-of-the-road BE point guard.

[RubyWiscy]

Junior's the best point guard option we have, but that's not saying much. His ceiling seems low and at best he can aspire to be a middle-of-the-road BE point guard.

Perhaps, but I'm not ready to write him off yet. Too soon in his career and he was a top 50 recruit.

[GGGG]

Junior's the best point guard option we have, but that's not saying much. His ceiling seems low and at best he can aspire to be a middle-of-the-road BE point guard.

I don't think that's really fair.  I mean, is he a John Wall or Kyrie Irving?  No, but he has a big upside once he figures things out and gets some confidence.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Junior's the best point guard option we have, but that's not saying much. His ceiling seems low and at best he can aspire to be a middle-of-the-road BE point guard.

Junior led MU with a +9 in plus/minus last night. Dwight was a -5.  Junior has a lot of work to become more of an offensive threat (efficiency) and needs to shore up his on ball defense.  But, he is indeed our best PG option.

[NYWarrior]

Junior led MU with a +9 in plus/minus last night. Dwight was a -5.  Junior has a lot of work to become more of an offensive threat (efficiency) and needs to shore up his on ball defense.  But, he is indeed our best PG option.

Junior definitely is .... he clustered a few of mistakes at inopportune times last night which breathed life into the opposition.  He still needs to work on man2man defense, which is really more about defensive positioning than anything else. That said its good to see Buzz let him play through these mistakes -- Junior has to take the reigns/

[willie warrior]

Looks like the Point Guard situation is resolved for the time being. Junior will be the best option in the long run and I think Buzz has finally realized it. Time to stop messing around and let the kid develop some confidence by staying on the court for most of the game.

I definitely agree. But why did it take this long for Buzz to realize it.

In addition, Bucyks should not be chucking up threes when the ball is rotated. Crowder needs to be in there, and if DJO does not have an open look, the ball needs to go inside to Otule/Gardner or Crowder. Bucyks will never be a consistent 3 point shooter. This year we will only have DJO. for threes

[GGGG]

I definitely agree. But why did it take this long for Buzz to realize it.

Because he had to earn it on the floor...which he did.  It didn't cost us anything so in the end, it all worked out.

[muhoops1]

Jr has played admirably over the last 3 or 4 outings.  The team defense can be horrible in stretches.  The question I keep asking is why does Buycks get all those minutes. He has been a liability since he lit up Bucknell.

[Dr. Blackheart]

I definitely agree. But why did it take this long for Buzz to realize it.

In addition, Bucyks should not be chucking up threes when the ball is rotated. Crowder needs to be in there, and if DJO does not have an open look, the ball needs to go inside to Otule/Gardner or Crowder. Bucyks will never be a consistent 3 point shooter. This year we will only have DJO. for threes

I don't disagree but...Buycks and Junior have the same assist %...but Junior has an eFG% of 39.2% vs. 54.6% for DB.  DB's ORating is 104.3 and Junior's is 76.5.  DB is a better rebounder.  While Junior has a better A/TO ratio of 1.77:1 over DB (1.53:1), neither are stellar.  I think what we all feel is that Junior makes others better as PG (see his +/- from UWM)...however, his weak offensive game also makes it easier for teams to key on DJO or Butler.  Few went right into a zone when Junior first entered against GU, for example.  Throw in Junior's developing defensive game and you can see why Buzz has started DB.

[MarquetteDano]

I don't disagree but...Buycks and Junior have the same assist %...but Junior has an eFG% of 39.2% vs. 54.6% for DB.  DB's ORating is 104.3 and Junior's is 76.5.  DB is a better rebounder. While Junior has a better A/TO ratio of 1.77:1 over DB (1.53:1), neither are stellar.  I think what we all feel is that Junior makes others better as PG (see his +/- from UWM)...however, his weak offensive game also makes it easier for teams to key on DJO or Butler.  Few went right into a zone when Junior first entered against GU, for example.  Throw in Junior's developing defensive game and you can see why Buzz has started DB.

I agree with Blackheart.  This Buycks hating is really getting old.  I understand the argument of whether Buycks should have major minutes at point versus Cadougan.  But this group-think on Buycks being such a liability is comical.  As Blackheart stated, he is our fourth leading scoring while shooting a respectable 46% from the field, 39% from three, and 71% from the line.  He leads in the team in assists and isn't even that far behind Cadougan (a true point) in assists per minute.  He is third on the team in rebounds (might I add our biggest weakness as a team is rebounding).

Buzz said in the post game (look it up on the JS) that Buycks, Blue, and JFB have the best conditioning on the team.  He even said Junior is good in spurts (you could infer that he gets tired).

So how do you divvy up the minutes?  Buycks has to play.  Does he make bone headed plays from time to time?  Yes.  But it doesn't make him a liability.

[NYWarrior]

I agree with Blackheart.  This Buycks hating is really getting old.  I understand the argument of whether Buycks should have major minutes at point versus Cadougan.  But this group think on Buycks being such a liability is comical.  As Blackheart stated, he is our fourth leading scoring while shooting a respectable 46% from the field, 39% from three, and 71% from the line.  He leads in the team in assists and isn't even that far behind Cadougan (a true point) in assists per minute.  He is third on the team in rebounds (might I add our biggest weakness as a team is rebounding).

While I am impressed with Buycks' improved shot selection (he's no longer prone to dribbling into a contested 17-19 footer -- a laudable improvement) let's not go nuts over his 39% shooting from three-point territory just yet. First, he's coming off a full season where he nailed just 27% from deep.  To start this season he was a robust 7 for 10 from deep after the first 3 games but has followed that up by hitting just 2 of his next 13 three-point attempts.  Maybe 27% was the low water mark for him and he'll hit north of 36% this year, but at this point I don't think we know.

Still, based on improved shot selection and effectiveness on the glass he is greatly improved year-to-year.  Taking an open three pointer is always better than a contested 17-19 footer.  Let's hope his three-point stroke finds some measure of consistency and does do a better job of protecting the ball.

[willie warrior]

I still contend that we are hirting with Bucyks in the line up when we have the three guards in. The other team will pressure/guard DJO on the perimeter, and we then end up with Bucyks throwing up a three, and he is not the guy that will consitently make that shot. We need to get away from the three guard lineup, except for match ups or stretches in the game for rest purposes.

The most effective line-up would be Butler and Crowder at Forward with Otule/Gardner in the post. Cadougan will get those guys the ball inside and it can be tossed back out to DJO for the three.

Bucyks can still get 20 minutes a game spelling DJO and Cadougan or filling in when we go with three guards.

[🏀]

The most effective line-up would be Butler and Crowder at Forward with Otule/Gardner in the post. Cadougan will get those guys the ball inside and it can be tossed back out to DJO for the three.

Caddy really, really missed Davante last night. The two times he went to O'Tule, the ball was through his hands before he has the chance to catch it. Caddy is just too quick for O'Tule.

If Gardner is going for extended minutes, if Caddy can drive and dump it into Butler/Crowder they can get O'Tule a softy behind the collapsing defenders. O'Tule should be able to pick that up.

And yes, Buycks shouldn't be on the floor. I'm really hoping Blue can pick his game up, quickly.

[MarquetteDano]

And yes, Buycks shouldn't be on the floor. I'm really hoping Blue can pick his game up, quickly.

So just to be clear Buycks should not be getting any minutes at all or next to none?  I can only assume you must think Buzz is a moron since you are arguing he deserves nearly no time on the floor and yet he Buzz is giving him the third most minutes a game at 28.

The discrepancy between what you believe he should get in minutes versus Buzz leads me to believe you think Buzz is way, way, way off on Buycks getting minutes.  Have I got it right?

[79Warrior]

So just to be clear Buycks should not be getting any minutes at all or next to none?  I can only assume you must think Buzz is a moron since you are arguing he deserves nearly no time on the floor and yet he Buzz is giving him the third most minutes a game at 28.

The discrepancy between what you believe he should get in minutes versus Buzz leads me to believe you think Buzz is way, way, way off on Buycks getting minutes.  Have I got it right?

Well said.

[🏀]

So just to be clear Buycks should not be getting any minutes at all or next to none?  I can only assume you must think Buzz is a moron since you are arguing he deserves nearly no time on the floor and yet he Buzz is giving him the third most minutes a game at 28.

The discrepancy between what you believe he should get in minutes versus Buzz leads me to believe you think Buzz is way, way, way off on Buycks getting minutes.  Have I got it right?

No, no. My mistake, I should have clarified. When we go to a three guard lineup, Buycks shouldn't be seeing the floor.

However, I will argue that Buycks shouldn't be playing as many minutes overall.

[MarquetteDano]

No, no. My mistake, I should have clarified. When we go to a three guard lineup, Buycks shouldn't be seeing the floor.

However, I will argue that Buycks shouldn't be playing as many minutes overall.

Got it.  I could see arguments for Buycks less time on the floor depending upon matchups and the improvement of the freshmen.  Regardless though, people need to realize we need him to play at least 20 minutes a game.

[GGGG]

Buycks and Blue at this point are basically the same type of player.  Strong defensively...can rebound their position well...can run all day.   But I don't think either are solid enough to be our point guard.  Now, just because of numbers, DB is going to have to be the point this year at times, but I don't think I want them on the floor together for extended period of times.

[ATL MU Warrior]

Junior's the best point guard option we have, but that's not saying much. His ceiling seems low and at best he can aspire to be a middle-of-the-road BE point guard.

Juinor has played a TOTAL of 181 minutes of D1 basketball.  That is less than Jimmy, DJO and Buycks have played so far this season.  Think about that for a second before completely writing him off.  Think about what he showed against Duke, the #1 team in the country with the the backcourt talent they have.  

He's going to be an excellent PG for Marquette...as other posters have said in this thread, he needs some time to keep learning and growing into the job.